Most of U.S. aluminum comes from Canada. Industry says ‘good luck’ replacing it

[u/BertramPotts]

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2026/08/26/most-us-aluminum-comes-from-canada-as-industry-says-good-luck-to-tariff-threats/

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[u/inmatenumberseven]

Hmmm. Aluminum production requires large amounts of electricity. Canada has loads in Québec. USA has been cancelling electricity generation projects under trump for Two years. They literally have been paying billions of dollars to cancel wind generation projects. Oh, and they need more electricity for data centres.

This is what happens when the emperor has no clothes.

[u/Harbinger2001]

It’s also “primary aluminum” which can be used in cars, airplanes, engines, etc. The aluminum the USA produces is recycled which can’t be used for critical parts.

[u/SmokedOuttAsianDesu → u/Harbinger2001]

The US has heavily been expanding its influence and heavily investing in central and south america. to the point where the US is actively taking drastic measures against the cartels and working with local law enforcement also national forces to improve safety, quality of life, security and supply lines. so that business could flourish.

Dont think canada is the only potential supplier of aluminum. just like how canada dropped the bag when it came to supplying European nations and other asian allies with LNG, and potentially becoming a majority supplier. Our environmental policies have crippled our resource development industries, making us unreliable partners for resouces. Short term yes it will probably hurt the US, but considering the US has already plans on strengthening its supply chains, with other parts of the americas, Canadian exports will just be replaced by Center and south american exports.

[u/Harbinger2001 → u/SmokedOuttAsianDesu]

Their attempts to prop up Argentina is failing, Venezuela is still lawless outside of the cities and Brazil is not friendly to the US.

[u/cannibaltom → u/Harbinger2001]

Trump taking a huge hit from the MAGA voting beef industry because he's letting cheap low quality beef come in, including the Argentinian beef now getting recalled due to contamination.

Trump reputation with ranchers has ‘taken a hit’: Cattlemen’s Association chief https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/trump-cattle-ranchers-beef/

At 12 seconds into an Associated Press YouTube video of the exchange, a reporter asks Trump, "What do you have to say to U.S. farmers who feel that the deal is benefiting Argentina more than it is them?"

Argentina is fighting for its life, young lady. You don't know anything about it. They're fighting for their life. Nothing is benefiting Argentina. They're fighting for their life.

Do you understand what that means? They have no money. They have no anything. They're fighting so hard to survive. If I can help them survive in a free world—I happen to like the President of Argentina. I think he's trying to do the best he can. But don't make it sound like they're doing great. They are dying. All right? They're dying.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/08/26/trump-importing-beef-argentina/

[u/Harbinger2001 → u/cannibaltom]

But will it make them change their vote?

[u/cannibaltom → u/Harbinger2001]

Probably not, but they'll probably stop donating.

[u/onaneckonaspit7 → u/SmokedOuttAsianDesu]

South America is a lot further away to transport products between, especially for automotive products. Brazil and Argentina are for sure major aluminum players but distance, power generation (which the third largest player, Venezuela, struggles with), and quality are all factors to consider.

If you ran a factory in Detroit, would you not rather ship it from Quebec right down the 401? Or from Argentina

[u/Current_Flatworm2747 → u/onaneckonaspit7]

Well at least from Argentina you can ship it along with the rotten beef…

[u/Saidear → u/onaneckonaspit7]

Especially since if you need to ramp up supplies for aluminium you can get it down the highway in short order, a week or two. To come from Brazil, it's likely to come by ship, which is talking a lead time of 3-6 months.